Brenda’s Edward swim impacted

Brenda Norman

A plan for Deniliquin’s Brenda Norman and her swimming squad to continue training for an English Channel swim by taking on the Edward River this weekend has had to be altered.

With the squad — including her English Channel swim coach and International Marathon Hall of Fame inductee Chloe McCardel — in Deniliquin for the Channel4Change fundraising dinner on Saturday, Miss Norman had planned a 8km river swim from Stevens Weir to McLean Beach for Sunday.

But a red alert blue-green algae warning for the river was put in place on Tuesday, so the training swim has been moved to the Deniliquin Swim Centre. The squad will swim a total of 10km — 25 sets of 400m swims.

Norman has also organised for McCardel to run two sessions with local swimmers at the Swim Centre on Saturday afternoon, between 2pm and 4pm.

In one session, McCardel will share her experiences as an elite athlete in terms of training, nutrition and goal setting, and in the second she will coach local swimmers.

Cost is $10 per person or $25 per family, with the money going to the Channel4Change charity.

Also on Saturday, Norman will host an information stall at the Do It In Deni Street Bazaar in the CBD, where donations will be gratefully accepted.

There were 144 tickets sold for Saturday’s dinner.

Local guests

There was a distinct local flavour at the Swing on the Grass event hosted at the Deniliquin Bowling Club by South West Music on Sunday.

Visiting band The Shuffle Club was supported at the Deniliquin event by South West Music student band OXAR, but some of the tutors and other local musicians were encouraged to also take part.

The Shuffle Club band members - Ashley Gaudion, Paul Griska, Rodney Gilbert and Dannie Bourne - also called on their old friend Brett Allitt to join them on the stage to perform, along with his wife Rachael Allitt and Shane McGrath.

The event, part of the South West Music live calendar, was such a success Deniliquin Golf Club manager Norm Purtill is already looking forward to giving people the chance to enjoy music on the beautiful grounds again next year.

Christmas feedback

Local residents want to see more Christmas lights in the Deniliquin CBD, according to the results of Edward River Council’s recent survey of Christmas decorations.

In providing a summary of the results earlier this week, the council said most suggestions came from Deniliquin residents who rated our Christmas decorations as ‘‘average’’.

As well as more lights in the CBD, respondents said they wanted greater participation by retail stores and a Christmas lights competition for the best decorated home, best decorated business and best decorated rural property.

Comments included the need to encourage more people to shop locally, particularly at Christmas.

Council said it will work with Deniliquin Business Chamber and other service organisations to start developing partnerships and proposals in line with the feedback received.

Fans upset

Deniliquin’s Greg Collins seems to have riled some local Carlton Football Club supporters after his letter to the editor was published in the Herald Sun this week.

Appearing under the heading ‘Not so special Judd’ on Monday, Greg’s letter takes aim at Chris Judd who allegedly took exception to being refused entry to Ikon Park without the necessary pass.

His letter read:

Chris Judd was obviously peeved that we wasn’t allowed access to Ikon park without a ticket or accreditation (HS, March 2), stating that he is ‘‘rarely asked during the season’’.

What happens if the ‘‘Carlton greats’’ had the same attitude and rocked up expecting to just walk past the gatekeeper? I don’t think the likes of Koutoufides, Southby, Parkin, Hunter, Jesaulenko, who were just as ‘‘great’’ as Judd, without anywhere near the remuneration, would expect special treatment by a gatekeeper on match day, and nor should they.

‘‘I got a fair reaction from some local Carlton supporters and Judd worshippers,’’ Greg said.

‘‘I tend to write a fair few letters to the Herald Sun, on whatever catches my eye. Quite a few of them have been published before.’’

Comedy show

By popular demand, Australia’s bush comedy duo Mel and Susie will bring their travelling variety show to Deniliquin on Friday, March 16.

The pair will appear at the Deniliquin Bowling Club and invite you to come down for some fair dinkum comedy, yarns, song and bush poetry.

The show starts at 7.30pm, but make your way to the club early for a meal before the entertainment starts.

Tickets are $20 per head, with bookings preferred. For more information or to book, phone the Deniliquin Bowling Club on 58811348.

Lloyd stars

Sam Lloyd had an impressive appearance during Richmond’s 70-point win against North Melbourne in round two of the JLT Community Series at Ikon Park, Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Spending only 49 per cent of the match on the ground, the former Deni Rams footballer made the most of his limited opportunity, gathering 16 possessions, taking four marks, laying four tackles and kicking a goal to rack up 65 AFL Fantasy points playing in the midfield.

Lloyd’s goal was the highlight of the night, with the 27 year-old earning a contested possession after a throw-in at the Tigers’ forward flank, getting it out to ruckman Toby Nankervis with just under six minutes left in the second quarter.

Nankervis handballed to Shaun Grigg with Lloyd receiving the ball back and handpassing immediately to Dusty Martin as he charged into the forward 50.

Lloyd continued to push forward with Dusty giving one of his famous ‘don’t argues’ before handpassing to Shai Bolton, giving a quick handball to Lloyd on the run who checksided the ball through for a major.

Lloyd will be pushing for selection for the Tigers’ round one blockbuster clash against Carlton at the MCG on Thursday, March 22, where the club will unfurl their 2017 premiership flag.